SARASOTA, Fla. – Nicole Broch Larsen of Denmark used a dream sequence on holes eight and nine to catapult into the lead at the Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay. Larsen made a hole-in-one on eight and a birdie on nine and carded a 3-under 69 to take the outright lead into Sunday’s final-round at -3, 141. She has a three shot lead on Quebec’s Sara–Maude Juneau, who posted a 2–over 74 and stands at even–par, 144. There are three players within five shots of the lead.

Juneau posted a 2-over 74 on Saturday and will head into the final-round in contention for her first win.

“I had a couple bogeys to start the round, but I kept my calm,” said Juneau, who made bogey on three of her first seven holes. “The golf course was once again difficult today.”

Juneau made birdie on hole No. 1 to start her second nine after she stuffed her approach to six inches. She also closed with a birdie on the par-5 ninth when she chipped on and rolled in a 6-footer.

Juneau has two second places finishes on her resume and 14 total top 10’s during her career on the Symetra Tour. She will use her experience in pursuit of her first career win.

“This isn’t my first time being in contention heading into Sunday and I know what is important,” said Juneau, who was at home watching hockey while talking to the media. “I know I need my rest and I’m ready for Sunday.”

Larsen, the 2015 Ladies European Tour (LET) Player of the Year, had a ho-hum start to the day with seven pars. On the eighth hole, she made her third career hole-in-one and her first as a professional. With the wind against her, she hit a 7-iron from 155-yards and rolled it right in. It was just the second hole-in-one on the Symetra Tour in 2016.

“It was really cool and it was actually a really good shot,” said Larsen. “It bounced once or twice and then went in, I was pumped.”

She proceeded to follow up the ace with a birdie on nine to make the turn in 33. Her only mishap of the day was a bogey on 12. She closed with a 24-foot birdie putt on 18 to post the round of the tournament so far.

“I wasn’t able to birdie 17 so it was really nice to birdie 18,” said Broch Larsen, who finished third on the LET Order of Merit in 2015. “It’s a great way to finish and head into the final-round.”

Larsen is the top ranked player in the field at No. 72 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. She will likely head back to the LET after this week’s event, but would love to earn her second professional win.

“A win is always nice and it doesn’t matter where it is,” said Broch Larsen. “It would be a big confidence boost if I can get the win. My game is going quite well and progressing day-by-day and hopefully I will have the trophy on Sunday.”

This is Larsen’s second Symetra Tour event. She missed the cut at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial last week.

She is also in great position to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games. She currently ranks No. 30 on the International Golf Federation rankings and the top 60 on July 11 will qualify.

“Besides going to the LPGA in 2017, qualifying for the Olympics is my biggest goal,” said Broch Larsen. “A win will help me to get there as well.”

Broch Larsen will tee in the final-round at 12:13 p.m. on Sunday with Juneau and Volvik Race for the Card money list No. 1 Madelene Sagstrom (+2, Enkoping, Sweden).

SAN ANTONIO – Brendan Steele completed an 8-under 64 in the morning and shot a 70 in the second round Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the Texas Open.

“You always want to keep going when you’re feeling good,” said Steele, who was 8 under through 13 holes Thursday when first-round play was stopped because of darkness. “The ball was going a long way in the afternoon. Really good conditions. … Come out this morning early and little bit colder and try to re-gather that momentum was a little bit different.”

The 2011 winner at TPC San Antonio for his lone tour title, Steele had a 10-under 134 total.

“I always feel good here,” Steele said. “I know the shots. The course sets up really well for me. Kind of plays into my strength, which is usually driving the ball.

“And so to see it play a little bit softer and with a little less wind, my eyes kind of lit up. It always plays so difficult, firm and fast and the winning score is just a handful under par usually. To see it soften up a little bit, I knew it was good.”

Play was suspended because of darkness with 13 players left on the course. The schedule was thrown off Thursday morning with a 3 1/2-hour rain delay.

Scott Langley, Stuart Appleby and Charley Hoffman were tied for second. Langley shot 68, Appleby 70, and Hoffman 71. Appleby rallied after four-putting from 7 feet for a triple bogey on his opening hole.

“I was swatting at it _ a golf ball got in the way,” Appleby was able to joke. “I was doing like when Seve (Ballesteros) had a four-putt many years ago. I asked him, ‘How did you have a four-putt?’ He said ”I miss. I miss. I miss. I make.’“

Nick Taylor is the top Canadian through 36 holes after shooting a 4-under 68 on Friday. The Abbotsford, B.C., native sits at 1 under, good for 40th spot. David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., is even after a 1-under 71 in the second round.

Patrick Reed (73) was 6 under along with Ricky Barnes (70), Jon Curran (68), Sung Kang (67), Spencer Levin (69), Peter Malnati (71), Ryan Palmer (70) and Mark Wilson (69).

“I feel like I hit a couple of loose shots,” said Reed, who was born in San Antonio. “The game feels solid. Just the ball striking a little bit.”

Branden Grace, the RBC Heritage winner last week in South Carolina, shot his second round 72 to make the cut on the number.

Defending champion Jimmy Walker missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 77. Phil Mickelson also dropped out, shooting 77-71.

“I don’t feel bad about the physical game, the ball coming off the blade,” Mickelson said. “The swing is on plane. I need better mental focusing, seeing the shot before I step into it.”

Former SMU star Bryson DeChambeau also missed the cut in his second pro start, shooting 74-73.

DALY CITY, Calif. – Haru Nomura shot a 2-under 70 in windy conditions Friday at Lake Merced to take the second-round lead in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

The 23-year-old Japanese player had a 9-under 135 total for a three-stroke lead over South Koreans So Yeon Ryu and Na Yeon Choi and Australia’s Minjee Lee.

“Today very windy, so I thought today’s best score even par,” Nomura said. “So, I keep my patience, so I’m so relaxed, and a couple putts go in.”

She opened with 11 straight pars, then made 15-foot birdie putts on the par-3 12th and par-4 13th. She dropped a stroke on the par-4 16th after driving into the right rough and short-siding herself in the left greenside bunker, and rebounded with a birdie on the par-4 17th.

“I will try and keep the patience this weekend,” Nomura said.

Nomura won the Australian Women’s Open in February, pulling away to beat top-ranked Lydia Ko by three strokes for her first LPGA Tour title.

Ko was four strokes back at 5 under after a 71. The two-time defending champion birdied three of the first three holes, but bogeyed two of the last four.

“I knew with the wind getting up, I knew it would be tough,” Ko said. “Just seeing yesterday afternoon’s scores, I saw that the back nine played quite tough yesterday, and it kind of played the same. I don’t think it was because the holes are particularly more difficult. I think the fairways are a little tighter, so if you miss them, you’re having a tough time trying to scramble for par.”

Set to turn 19 on Sunday, the New Zealander already has two victories in California this year, winning the Kia Classic and ANA Inspiration – the first major of the year – in consecutive weeks.

Ryu, the first-round leader after a tournament-record 63, bogeyed four of her first five holes in rain and wind and finished with a 75.

“The weather was pretty bad until the sixth hole,” Ryu said. “It was like really strong wind and rain. Also the wind direction just keep changing, so it was really hard to judge where is the wind coming from.”

The 19-year-old Lee followed her opening 73 with a bogey-free 65 in calmer morning conditions.

“I just took advantage of the opportunities I had,” Lee said. “I just stayed patient. If I made a mistake, I tried to make up-and-downs, and I did today. Just chipped and putted well today.”

Lee won the Lotte Championship last week in Hawaii for her second LPGA Tour title. She took the 2012 U.S. Girls’ Junior at Lake Merced.

Choi had a 70.

“A lot of bogeys out there, but I tried to hang in there until the last hole,” Choi said. “I didn’t give up.”

American Gerina Piller also was 5 under after a 71.

Brooke Henderson was tied for 16th at 2 under after her second straight 71. The 18-year-old Canadian has seven straight top-10 finishes.

Third-ranked Lexi Thompson (74) and former Stanford student Michelle Wie (73) were 2 over.

No. 4 Stacy Lewis had a 76 to make the cut by a stroke at 4 under.

Fifty-five-year-old Juli Inkster also was 4 under in home event, shooting her second 74. Fellow area star Paula Creamer dropped out, following an opening 72 with a 78.

SAN ANTONIO – Brendan Steele topped the Texas Open leaderboard at 8 under through 13 holes Thursday when the first round was suspended because of darkness.

Steele, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the tournament five years ago, was unable to finish the opening round after play was delayed for 3 1/2 hours because of morning rain.

Among those who did finish, Charley Hoffman had a 6-under 66, a stroke ahead of Stuart Appleby and Peter Malnati.

Defending champion Jimmy Walker opened with a 75. Walker had four rounds under par last year in his hometown event to hold off Jordan Spieth in what was his last PGA Tour victory.

Spieth isn’t in this year’s field, the first time since he turned pro at the end of 2012 that he missed a Texas event.

When Steele returns Friday morning to complete the first round at the TPC Oaks Course, he could make a run at the course record of 63 set by Matt Every in 2012 and matched by Martin Laird in 2012.

There are a pair of Canadians in the field this week. Brantford, Ont.’s David Hearn was 1-over with 1-hole remaining. Abbotsford, B.C.’s Nick Taylor was 3-over thru 14 holes.

DALY CITY, Calif. – So Yeon Ryu shot a tournament-record 9-under 63 on Thursday to take the early first-round lead in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

Playing in the first group of the day off the 10th tee, the South Korean player had seven birdies in an eight-hole stretch on the back nine and added two more on the front nine at Lake Merced.

“I was kind of lucky to tee it off really early,” Ryu said. “I had a really fresh green, no wind. Also San Francisco is really cold in the morning, but this morning it was just perfect temperature.

“I think today just everything was just great. My tee shot was great. I only missed one green today. I shot 17 greens. Putting was really good.”

Japan’s Haru Nomura was second after a 65. China’s Xi Yu Lin and the Netherlands’ Christel Boeljon shot 67, and two-time defending champion Lydia Ko topped the group at 68. Ko already has two victories in California this year, winning the Kia Classic and ANA Inspiration in consecutive weeks.

“Course is easy, whatever course she’s playing on,” the top-ranked Ko joked about Ryu. “Obviously, everything was going right today. For her to shoot a score like that, that’s really impressive.”

Ryu is winless since the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. She also won the 2011 U.S. Women Open and 2012 Jamie Farr Toledo Classic.

“Every tournament, I really want to win” Ryu said. “I think it’s a bit too early to discuss about the result. We still have three more days.”

U.S. Women’s Open champion In Gee Chun braided Ko’s hair on the opening hole.

“I had my two bracelets and my hair tie and I was planning on braiding my hair before I played,” Ko said. “She was like, ‘Oh, doesn’t it bother you having stuff on your wrist? I said, ‘No, no.’ Well, the hair tie was for me to braid it. She was like, ‘Do you want me to braid it for you?’ I was like, ‘Sure. It’s going to end up way nicer than how I braid it.’ She did good. I told her, ‘It’s hairstylist In Gee.”’

Chun opened with a 71

Canadian Brooke Henderson also shot a 71. The 18-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., has seven straight top-10 LPGA finishes.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp had a 1-over 73, while Quebec’s Maude-Aimee LeBlanc struggled to a 6-over 78.

Lake Mary, Florida. – Saskatoon’s Anna Young picked up her first professional win today in the NWGA Tour event being held at Alaqua Country Club in Lake Mary, Fla.

Young carded rounds of 67-72-70 to finish 4-under par on the par 71 track.

“Today’s goal was to stay within each shot, not taking too many unnecessary chances,” said Young who carded one of only two rounds under par this morning.

Monifa Sealy carded the other sub par round of 68 to move up into second place.

For full scoring, click here.

By mid-summer most golfers avoid the 100 year-old maples that dot several of the fairways at Thornhill Golf and Country Club at all costs, but in the early spring, these leafless giants are a welcomed sight to many.

Superintendent Greg McFarlane, who has been the caretaker for the 150-acre property for the past 19 years, has been as busy as a bee, (and we will get to those buzzing creatures momentarily) for the past few weeks collecting sap once or twice a day from about 50 tapped trees on the property. In the kitchen, every week or so, executive chef Tim Ayiotis and his staff have been enjoying the sweet aroma of boiling down the sap and bottling liquid gold – or maple syrup for members to enjoy at home or at the Young Street club that dates back to 1922.

This is unusual business for a private country club in the GTA, but it’s one of the many attributes that set the 27-hole Stanley Thompson designed layout apart from other establishments.

“We’re a golf course first and foremost, but we also recognize that we play a big part in the natural environment that encompasses the property and we strive to preserve and enhance what Mother Nature has given us,” McFarlane says who has worked with Global Organics since 2008 to reduce pesticide use annually without negatively impacting turf conditions. The program that is also in play at Toronto’s Oakdale Golf and Country Club, has been so successful, that Thornhill is now using 90 per cent less active ingredients when it comes to pesticides and fertilizers than the other top-100 private clubs in Ontario, as confirmed by an audit by KPMG.

Thornhill is home to deer, coyotes and foxes. There’s a naturalized water retention pond surround by water plants and bulrushes that is inhabited by snapping and painted turtles, ducks, fish and other creatures – even the odd Canadian goose!

Thornhill superintendent Greg McFarlane checking out his sap buckets (Brent Long)

McFarlane and Ayiotis have also teamed up to introduce a honey-producing bee colony that’s multiplying to six hives and a hollowed out tree this year. Their ever-expanding vegetable garden is taking root in new areas of the golf course and the bees also enjoy a variety of fruit trees that are scattered throughout the golf course.

“I like to call it the farm, and we’re putting it to work for the members to enjoy the fruits of our labour and love for the property,” says Ayiotis, who has been the club’s executive chef for four years.

The wild leaks that they planted among some hostas last spring will be ready for picking by the middle of May and Ayiotis can’t wait to incorporate them into soups and other dishes.

“Our members eat differently here and I think they have come to appreciate that,” he added. “We’re about creating menu items that are homemade, handmade, made fresh, as local as we can make it, almost everything we use is grown or produced within a 100 kilometre radius.”

Ayiotis doesn’t serve berries from California or South America during the winter months, but in the summer, he’ll flash freeze berries and fruits and then incorporate that fruit into preserves, syrup and puree that can be used throughout the year.

He’s even created a one-of-a-kind health bar for members using the maple syrup and the honey that’s produced from the golf course . . . and his poached pears in honey are a menu favourite.

Ayiotis also provides members with a fridge full of “To Go” menu items that can be picked up on the spur of the moment and the kitchen crew will also put together “Cottage Packs” for those members who like to enjoy prepared steaks or smoked ribs on the BBQ without all the work when they head north during the summer.

“Back in February I sat down with Greg and we went through the seed catalogue together and picked up the vegetables and herbs that we’ll be growing this summer,” he explained.

Many of the different seeds were planted indoors in March and will be transplanted when the weather warms up. They’re always experimenting and new this year will be some specialty cauliflower, squash and potatoes to go along with tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, 200 bulbs of garlic and a wide variety of herbs.

So if healthy eating isn’t enough, how about a club that engages and promotes a healthy lifestyle, with a state-of-the art fitness center that opened in 2015, six sheets of curling ice, four new Har-Tru tennis courts that will be unveiled this spring and construction of an outdoor swimming pool is scheduled to start this fall.

“We like to say that Thornhill G&CC is an oasis within the city where the entire family can escape to a special place where they can focus on being together and have fun in a healthy and active environment where we care for the entire person, not just a golf game,” says Joe Murphy, GM and COO at Thornhill.

Back on course, McFarlane is preparing the turf to host the mid-summer 2016 Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship from July 12th to 15th. The club has a long tradition of hosting major events including the 1987 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship won by Steve Hayles and more recently the 2006 Canadian University/College Championship, the 2009 Toronto Star Women’s Amateur won by Jennifer Kirby and 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship won by Team Canada Development Team member Grace St-Germain, who carded four consecutive under-par rounds to claim the title. In addition, Thornhill was the site that played host to 1945 Canadian Open where Byron Nelson claimed his remarkable 11th victory in a row.

It should be another memorable year at one of Canada’s most remarkable country clubs.

For more information on Thornhill, visit www.thornhillgcc.com.

CALGARY—Tom Watson will make his debut at the Shaw Charity Classic this summer – the PGA TOUR Champions event that has quickly become a staple on the schedules of the world’s best players over 50.

The World Golf Hall of Fame member has won 39 times on the PGA TOUR, including eight majors. Throughout his illustrious career, Watson has also captured five Claret Jugs as the British Open Champion (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983) and won both the 1982 US Open and the Masters Tournament in 1977 and 1981.

“I still enjoy preparing for a tournament and teeing it up competitively,” said Watson, who recently made his 43rd and final appearance at The Masters. “I have not played in Calgary before but I have heard nothing but positive things about the Shaw Charity Classic. I am looking forward to getting up there this summer and being a part of the show.”

Named Golfer of the Decade in the 1980’s for his 19 wins and 86 top-10 finishes, Watson is a six-time PGA TOUR Player-of-the-Year and was the leading money-winner five times throughout his career. After playing on four Ryder Cup teams for the United States (1977, 1981, 1983, 1989), Watson captained the 1993 Ryder Cup squad to a come-from-behind victory.

While Watson is now most comfortable playing on the PGA TOUR Champions Tour – where he has won 14 times, including six senior major victories – he did capture the world’s attention one more time in 2009 when Mr. British Open lost in a playoff to Stewart Cink after leading the Open Championship until the 72nd hole.

“The Shaw Charity Classic has been very successful in bringing many of the best names in golf to Calgarians, and we are thrilled to add Tom Watson to that list,” said Sean Van Kesteren, executive director, Shaw Charity Classic. “Having players like Tom Watson continue to tee it up with the PGA TOUR Champions rekindles special memories for many of our spectators and allows them to create new ones with their children. I can’t think of a better way to kick off 2016 than by confirming that one of the most respected and accomplished sportsmen will be coming to Calgary.”

Richmond Hill, Ont. – The CJGA held its annual Board of Directors meeting last week at the associations National Head Office in Richmond Hill, Ont.

As members of the board gathered for the meeting, one significant individual was missing, Larry Ungerman. A co-founder of the CJGA with Earl Fritz, Larry passed away suddenly in his Florida home on March 27, 2016. A slide show tribute to Larry opened the meeting followed by individual stories of fond memories and the impact Larry had on the many lives he touched.

On another note, the CJGA Board of Directors gladly welcomed a new face in Grant Fraser.  Fraser is the founder of the Golf Management Institute of Canada (GMIC). Prior to launching the GMIC in 1999, he established the first professional golf management program (PGM) in Ontario at Humber College. Three years after starting the program, he received Humber College’s Innovator of the Year Award.  In 2000, Grant was involved in establishing another PGM program in Ontario at Niagara College where he serves as program coordinator and continues to teach aspiring golf professionals the “business of golf”.

“I am pleased to join the board of the CJGA and look forward to working with Earl Fritz, Brad Parkins and the rest of the CJGA team to further develop junior golf opportunities and initiatives across Canada” said Fraser. “The CJGA has helped so many junior golfers across the country for over 20 years and I’m excited to help in growing the game with them.”

Fraser has authored two books; “50 of Ontario’s Greatest Public Golf Courses” and “Golf Access”.

He is also a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), the Golf Writer’s Association of America (GWAA) and the Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC), where he currently serves as President.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Branden Grace has had his share of big moments. He believes winning the RBC Heritage is his biggest, by far.

The 27-year-old South African had won 10 times overseas, finished in the top five last year in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, and went 5-0 for the International team at the Presidents Cup. On Sunday, he shot a 5-under 66 to overtake Luke Donald for his first title on the PGA Tour.

“This really puts the cherry on top of the cake,” Grace said. “And I’m excited for things to start.”

Grace has already fashioned a very accomplished career. He’s 14th in the world ranking and three of his seven career wins on the European Tour have come since 2015.

“I can tick this one off the box and head into the next couple of majors trying to win it,” he said. “I have one notch, I’ve done it before and I can do it again.”

Grace trailed leader Luke Donald by three shots when the round began, but wiped out that deficit by the turn with five birdies. Grace took the lead for good with consecutive birdies on 12 and 13.

He overcame a final challenge on the 16th hole, rolling in a 12-foot par putt to maintain a three-shot lead. A hole behind, Donald lipped out a birdie try. He could get no closer.

Grace finished at 9-under 275, two shots ahead of Donald and Russell Knox. Donald shot a 71, and Knox had a 67.

Grace earned $1,062,000 and a PGA Tour exemption through the 2017-18 season, which he said was a weight off his mind and will allow him to comfortably contend without worrying about keeping his tour card.

Grace also became the latest to rally past hard-luck leader Donald at Harbour Town Golf Links. The Englishman has finished second four times and third twice in the past eight events here.

Brandt Snedeker shot a final-round 64 to catch Donald and win in a playoff in 2011. Matt Kuchar shot a 64 in 2014, overtaking Donald for the win with a chip-in from the bunker on the 72nd hole.

Donald said Saturday after taking a one-shot lead he’d need to be aggressive and make birdies. That did not happen. He settled for pars on the opening six holes, while Grace moved in front with four birdies on the same stretch.

Donald got to 8 under with a birdie on the seventh hole, then quickly gave it back on No. 8 when he drove in the water and took bogey.

He caught Grace one final time with a ninth-hole birdie, but could not keep up with the South African.

“I think I’ve got to put myself three or four behind on Sunday,” Donald said. “Leading doesn’t seem to be working out for me.”

Although Donald earned $519,200 and moved past five-time RBC Heritage champion Davis Love III for second in tournament winnings here with $3,063,520.

Graham DeLaet, of Weyburn, Sask., was the top Canadian, finishing tied for 14th at 2-under 282. DeLaet shot par on Sunday. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., moved up 25 spots on the leaderboard to tie for 30th following a 4 under in his final round.

Bryson DeChambeau, the former SMU star who won the NCAA and U.S. Amateur last year, tied for fourth in his first event since turning pro, four shots behind Grace after a 68. Kevin Na was tied with DeChambeau after a 69.

Top-ranked Jason Day rebounded from a season-worst 79 on Saturday with a 68 to tie for 23rd at 1 under. He now gets a week off before returning to play at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, starting on April 28. He said he’ll use the time to refresh his mind and improve his fitness, which he said got a bit loose during this last run of tournament golf.

Not that it hurt him on the course. In the past month, Day won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the World Golf Championship’s Dell Match Play event. He tied for 10th at the Masters and shared the 36-hole lead at Harbour Town until his third-round blow up.

His finish was his third round in the 70s this week. “A lot of positive stuff” at the tournament, Day said. “I’ve just got to get back, just rest my mind, rest my body and try and get back in the swing of things.”